The FDA has approved two new drugs for treatment of adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections caused by susceptible gram-positive bacteria. Dalbavancin (Dalvance – Durata) is a long-acting intravenous (IV) lipoglycopeptide antibiotic similar to telavancin (Vibativ).1Tedizolid phosphate (Sivextro – Cubist) is an IV and oral oxazolidinone antibacterial drug similar to linezolid (Zyvox).2 A third IV antibiotic, oritavancin (Orbactiv), recently approved by the FDA for the same indication, will be reviewed in a future issue.

STANDARD TREATMENT — Patients hospitalized for non-purulent skin and soft-tissue infections, which are often caused by streptococci, can usually be treated empirically with IV penicillin, cefazolin, ceftriaxone, or